How to Do Pinterest Keyword Research (Step-by-Step)
On Pinterest, people find pins by searching, not scrolling, so the words you attach decide whether yours get found or buried. Here is the exact free process, shown with one real example from search bar to finished pin.
Type a seed term into Pinterest search, collect the autocomplete suggestions and guided-search tiles, confirm demand in the free Pinterest Trends tool, then place the strongest keywords in your pin titles, descriptions, and board names.
People search Pinterest, they don't scroll it
Someone opens Pinterest with a specific idea in mind and types it into the bar. What shows up next is decided by how the Pinterest algorithm reads the words attached to each pin, not by who posted it. Around 97% of top Pinterest searches are unbranded, so people find you by keyword, not brand name. Get the words right and you get discovered. Get them wrong and even beautiful pins sit invisible. The whole process below is demonstrated with one example: a brand selling a leather tote bag.
Find keywords straight from the search bar
You do not need a paid tool, though a few free Pinterest keyword research tools can speed things up. Start typing your seed term into Pinterest search and the autocomplete drops a list of real, popular searches, roughly ordered by demand. Those suggestions are your keywords.
Illustrative example. Each suggestion is a real search people make. The ones near the top carry the most demand, so they are your highest-value keywords.
Then look just under the search bar. Pinterest shows colored guided-search tiles, extra modifiers you can stack onto your term to uncover specific long-tail keywords with built-in intent.
Stack a tile onto your seed term: leather tote bag + handmade + for work becomes a precise, low-competition keyword.
Validate demand, and check the season
Before you commit, drop your candidates into Pinterest Trends, a free tool at trends.pinterest.com. It shows how interest in a term moves through the year, so you can tell an evergreen keyword from a seasonal one, and publish six to eight weeks ahead of any spike.
Read the shape. An evergreen keyword earns traffic all year, so publish anytime. A seasonal one needs lead time, because Pinterest takes weeks to rank a new pin. Illustrative of how Trends data looks.
Turn one keyword into a pin that ranks
This is where most people stop short. A keyword only works where Pinterest can read it: the pin title, description, image text, and the board you file it under. Here is the leather tote bag example mapped from a single chosen keyword into every spot that matters on one pin.
Same keyword, repeated naturally across five places. That consistency is the signal Pinterest uses to rank the pin, no stuffing required.
Four mistakes that waste good keywords
Even solid research gets wasted by a few avoidable habits. Here are the big four, plus a longer list of Pinterest marketing mistakes to avoid.
Keyword stuffing
Cramming twenty terms into one description reads like spam to people and to Pinterest. Use one primary keyword plus a few related ones, in real sentences.
Ignoring intent
A keyword can have demand but the wrong intent. Match the pin to what the searcher wants, inspiration, a how-to, or a product, not just the word.
Going too broad
Chasing head terms like "bags" or "fashion" means fighting millions of pins. Win the specific long-tail first, then earn the broad terms.
Set and forget
Demand shifts and seasons turn. Revisit your research every couple of months and double down on the keywords your analytics proves are working.
Now multiply that by every pin, every week.
One keyword mapped to one pin is simple. Doing it for dozens of fresh pins a week, then tracking what works and adjusting, is the actual job. That is all 84Pins does: organic, keyword-led Pinterest, no ads, no guesswork. If you would rather have it handled, we run the whole thing.
Pinterest keyword research FAQ
What are Pinterest keywords?
Pinterest keywords are the words and phrases people type into Pinterest search to find ideas and products. Pinterest then matches those keywords across your profile, board names, pin titles, and descriptions to decide which searches your content appears in.
Where do I find keywords on Pinterest?
Straight from Pinterest. The search bar autocomplete and the colored guided-search tiles show real popular searches, Pinterest Trends shows demand over time, and the keyword step inside Pinterest Ads suggests related terms you can browse free without running an ad.
Is Pinterest Trends free to use?
Yes. Pinterest Trends is a free tool at trends.pinterest.com. You can see how interest in any term rises and falls through the year, compare keywords side by side, and spot seasonal peaks so you can publish ahead of them.
How many keywords should I use per pin?
Focus each pin on one primary keyword and weave in two or three closely related terms across the title and description, as natural sentences. More than that tips into keyword stuffing, which hurts you with both readers and the algorithm.
Do hashtags still work on Pinterest in 2026?
Not really. Hashtags carry little weight on Pinterest now. The platform treats your titles, descriptions, and board context as the real ranking signals, so put your effort into natural keywords there rather than stacking hashtags.
